Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and a splendid Chinese music experience

29 January 2009

Hong Kong, 29 January 2009 - The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) will perform concerts conducted by En Shao with suona virtuoso Guo Yazhi and tenor Wei Song to celebrate the Chinese New Year. A variety of music including traditional Chinese pieces and contemporary repertoire will definitely enrich your musical experience. The two performances will be held on 30 & 31 January (Fri & Sat) at 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

En Shao
After graduating from the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, En Shao became second Principal Conductor of the Chinese Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra (now the China Philharmonic Orchestra), a post he held for five years, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China and the National Youth Orchestra of China. He has conducted the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, the Hallé, Bournemouth, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Starting on 1st November 2002, En Shao took up the position of Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra.

Guo Yazhi
Guo graduated from Central Academy of Music in 1990. He joined the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in December 1999 as Suona Principal. In 1993, his invention of a “removable reed”, which enables the playing of semitones on the suona and expands its range for expressiveness, won for him a Class Two Award for Technological Advancement by the Ministry of Culture. In 1998, Guo went to New York to participate in the International Pro Musicis Awards. Since 1991, he has performed in international music festivals in Germany, Holland, Denmark, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao and China, and has given solo recitals in New York, Boston and Los Angeles.

Wei Song
Wei Song is one of the most famous tenors in China. He graduated from the vocal department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He studied in Paris from1999 to 2000. Currently he is the Vice President of the Shanghai Opera House. He has sung in many operas and concerts including: Cavaradossi in Tosca, Zhang Sheng in West Chamber, Liangxing in Yue Fei, Dar land in Torch of Paris, Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana, Calaf in Turandot, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, Xiang Yu in King of Chu, Shangcheng in Singing Phantom of the Night, Don Jose in Carmen, Alfredo in La Traviata, Zhouping in the Chinese opera Thunder Storm.

ABOUT THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Hailed as “one of Asia's top orchestras”, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is led by the internationally renowned Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Edo de Waart. Enriching Hong Kong’s cultural life for over a century, the Orchestra has grown into a formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents in the last three decades, attracting world-class artists to perform on the same stage. In April 2006, The Swire Group Charitable Trust became the Hong Kong Philharmonic’s Principal Patron to enable Maestro de Waart’s artistic vision for the Orchestra to be realized. HKPO annually touches the lives of 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances, including a series of outreach activities including the city’s largest outdoor symphonic concert in Happy Valley, Swire Symphony under the Stars. Please visit www.hkpo.com for more information about the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
SWIRE is the Principal Patron of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre